30th June - Whatever happens with Scotland's bid for Euro 2008, Dons' fans have at last got the answer to a question that has been troubling them for the past couple of years. Will we stay or will we go? Up until a few days ago, most of us probably guessed that the board's preference for the future of our stadium would be to haul it down and build a new one elsewhere. We all had a good idea of where the new site would be too, but many of us hoped it wasn't true and that we would see a major overhaul and redevelopment of Pittodrie. Now we know that the board strongly favour a move to Kingswells and Stewart Milne has got his way.
Even if the Euro-bid fails and the promised return to considering keeping Pittodrie for our footballing home comes about, we now know that the consultation would be from a mighty biased boardroom position. Not that everybody disagrees, far from it. Of course there are people vehemently in favour of keeping our traditional home, but there are at least equal numbers who see the need to move to pastures new. let's hope there's some way of keeping all us Sheepies in the same fold when the ink finally dries on the decision, it would be just as sad to lose fellow fans because we have moved as it will be to see the last match played at Todders and the old place hauled to the ground to be replaced with soulless blocks of flats or another giant branch of Tesco.
Personally, I favour moving. Much as I love the ground I have been trooping along to for the past 45 years, I really can't see how it can be converted into a modern stadium fit to meet UEFA and FIFA requirements for hosting international matches. It certainly isn't well placed for earning extra income from major concerts and the roads and parking are inadequate for crowds much bigger than we are currently averaging. A new stadium with loads of parking, a huge social club and modern training facilities would enhance the Club's reputation and generate fresh excitement in the local community. I can't see how it would fail to attract far bigger numbers of fans than we do now and if we are ever going to become serious challengers to the O.F. on a regular basis, like we once were, then we need to haul far more punters through the turnstiles.
There's plenty of time for the club to consult the fans about lots of the detail of a new stadium, how it should look, what kind of facilities it can offer, and they have promised the Supporters Trust that they'll do this no matter the outcome of the end of July bid to the SFA. people should be aware, though, that the much bandied about £20 million are by no means guaranteed and the less that the club ask for from the Scottish Executive, the more likely they are to get the go-ahead from the SFA. The board needs to show more imagination and enterprise than it ever has in the past to find sources of funds for this project that will ensure that we get a top class stadium and at the same time start attracting the quality of experienced players we need to make the Dons much stronger than they are now. Nobody claims that this is easy, but the challenge must be met or we might as well all pack it in and take up knitting egg cosies in front of tv's that inflict endless coverage of Glasgow's gruesomes. The debate about all this will run and run, but of a certainty, the entire Northeast needs to back the Euro 2008 bid or we won't even get off the starting blocks in the foreseeable future.
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27th June - Andy Dow's parting shot about Ebbe giving a hard time last
season doesn't hold much water. Admittedly he played a big part in the team's performance the season before, but
let's face it, in that selection of Dandies even David Winnie would have looked good. It might be hard, but professional
sportsmen have to perform at the top of their game as often and for as long as possible. If they can't cut it then
they can't expect to keep reaping the rewards that they attract when they are doing well. The manager has the job
of finding the best possible blend of players for his team and if he doesn't feel that a player is delivering the
goods then he has to bring in guys who he feels can do better. Andy Dow managed to lose form and on the occasions
he was brought back into the side didn't do enough to convince his boss that he was worth a place. Couple that
with tough economic times at Pittodrie and the painful equation is complete and the player has to go. Thanks for the contribution you mad season before last Dowser and all the best at Motherwell, but don't kid yourself that they can top the Dandies in the League coz it just ain't going to happen. |
Our former chief exec had his faults and weaknesses but he was probably good for Aberdeen FC. It's a pity he didn't get the scope to make as many changes as he might have liked and has moved on after such a short time. We are left facing the prospect of a third chiefy in less than 12 months, hardly an ideal way of doing business. Continuity in the engine room of any club is vitally important and it's the job of the board to make sure that we get this.
From a fan's point of view, Cormack was a man of the terraces and quite prepared to get into the singing and shouting at a match or in the pub - not something you get from too many people who run the game. Let's hope the next guy fits into fan culture too. Stand free indeed.
Reason to be cheerful number two? The SPL are looking at changing over to summer football. Can you think of many Rudolphs who would rather sit in wind blasted, ice-box stadia in January or February watching their matches rather than in relative comfort during the summer? Okay, there are a few and summer football would interfere with loads of people's holiday plans, but there is also the strong possibility that punters who would never dream of going to a game in winter might turn out in shirt-sleeve weather. TRF ran a poll on this very question a few months ago and the majority of people who took part are up for a change (See for yourself) with 47% in favour and only 21% against. Let's at least have it properly debated and the SPL can start by asking the people who count - the fans.
21st June - At last the fixtures are out and look who we've got first.......
"Credit where it's due. Stewart Milne's (albeit two months late) response to the Supporters Trust's open letter at least shows a willingness to communicate with the fans.
However it didn't go unnoticed that Wigless managed, yet again, to put his own personal slant on things - at least he's getting his money's worth out of this PR company.
The assertion that the Trust has knocked back several invitations to meet with the board came as news to the AFCST Committee. And the blithe labeling of legitimate shareholder questioning as "bickering" was merely an attempt to discredit those who hold divergent opinions, as we saw with the departed Jim Cummings.
Worst of all was the accusation that supporter activism could jeopardise AFC's participation in any 2008 bid. This is reprehensible, and is clearly meant as nothing more than an emasculating scare tactic.
If Scotland gets to host the tournament then the only factors which will determine whether the City of Aberdeen stages games will be the quality of the stadium and the local infrastructure. Does Milne think the SFA will pull the plug to avoid the remote danger of visiting dignitaries witnessing 'sack the board' demos? Aye, right.
Nonetheless, it was interesting to see the Chairman (finally) set some very definite targets. By 2004, we are told, AFC will be breaking even and have a spanking new training facility. Watch this space.
Ultimately, Milne will be judged on his actions and not his words. Perhaps, given this snippy response, it's just as well. Time to put up or shut up. "
